Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has clarified that there are no plans to relocate the headquarters of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) from Chattogram to Dhaka.
The minister made the remarks during a meeting with newly elected leaders of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry at his residence in Mehedibagh, Chattogram, on Friday evening.
The issue gained attention after a member of parliament recently proposed in the National Parliament that BPC’s head office be shifted from Chattogram to Dhaka. Following the proposal, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources reportedly sent a letter to the BPC chairman seeking an urgent opinion on the matter.
The development sparked concerns among local stakeholders, many of whom viewed the proposed relocation as a move that could undermine Chattogram’s importance as the country’s principal port city and commercial hub.
During the meeting, chamber leaders raised the issue with the minister, who assured them that there was no plan to move BPC’s headquarters to the capital.
Business Issues Also Discussed
A delegation led by newly elected Chamber President Amirul Haque met the minister as part of a courtesy visit.
During the discussion, chamber leaders highlighted concerns regarding alleged disparities in cargo weighing procedures at the Darogahat weighing station on the Chattogram–Dhaka highway. In response, the minister assured them that steps would be taken to address the issue.
The meeting also focused on measures to improve trade facilitation and the overall business environment in Chattogram.
Speaking after the meeting, Chamber President Amirul Haque described the discussion as an informal courtesy call but said several issues related to Chattogram’s economic interests were discussed in detail.
The minister’s assurance is expected to ease concerns among business leaders and residents who had opposed any potential move to relocate the state-owned petroleum corporation’s headquarters away from Chattogram.
